Jun 28
Jun 28
Korean Text Pops Up In Surgeon Simulator 2013, Fuels Half-Life 3 Speculation Again
Posted in: Today's ChiliRemember yesterday we reported that Valve had denied Half-Life 3 rumors? This was after Korean words started popping up in Half-Life 2, and many had speculated that this was Valve teasing an announcement. However a Valve staff posted in the […]
Like It , +1 , Tweet It , Pin It Original content from Ubergizmo. 
     |
Jun 27
Half-Life 2 crowbars its way out of Linux beta, brings Oculus Rift support with it
Posted in: Today's Chili
Valve’s Half-Life 2 along with Episodes One and Two are out of beta and available for download on Steam for Linux, the company announced today. While we welcome any Half-Life news, it’s hard to not get disappointed when the number three isn’t involved. Gordon Freeman’s last known appearance uses the new SteamPipe content delivery system and “numerous” community bug fixes have been implemented.
That’s not all! Oculus Rift (and other virtual reality device) support has been added as well. We aren’t aware of any other VR units besides the Rift, but in March Valve told us it’s pursuing hardware itself. Speculating about other VR systems isn’t far from speculating about Half-Life 3‘s existence — we don’t know anything at this point. However, Linux gaming site Phoronix says to expect more good Valve Linux news in July. We reached out to Valve for more info and will update if we hear anything back.
Filed under: Gaming
Via: Phoronix
Source: Steam
Jun 27
Valve Denies Half-Life 3 Rumors
Posted in: Today's ChiliFor gamers who are still playing Half-Life 2, you might have been shocked when you fired up the game earlier to discover the NPCs delivering their lines in Korean instead of your chosen language, and while it might have immediately […]
Like It , +1 , Tweet It , Pin It Original content from Ubergizmo. 
| |
Jun 20
Jun 19
While Steam users aren’t allowed to resell their digital games, it’s been spotted in the code of the latest beta update that digital gaming service may soon get the ability to share games with friends, allowing users to give access to certain games to friends if they aren’t currently playing them. The lines of code
May 18
Cast AR hands-on with Jeri Ellsworth at Maker Faire 2013 (update: video interview)
Posted in: Today's Chili
When Valve‘s first hardware hire, Jeri Ellsworth, tweeted back in February that she was fired from the company, we were disappointed but also intrigued by what she meant by “time for new exciting projects.” Well we finally saw what she’s been up to here at at Maker Faire 2013. It’s called Cast AR, and it’s a pair of 3D augmented-reality glasses that she and former Valve programmer Rick Johnson were working on at Valve before they left.
The model we saw is still in the early prototype stages, but the concepts are already in place. Perched atop a pair of active shutter glasses are a couple of miniature LCD projectors, which bounce images from a connected computer onto a special reflective surface at a 120Hz refresh rate. A camera module sits on the eyewear’s bridge and monitors an array of infrared LEDs embedded in the reflective surface. This allows for quick and accurate head tracking. Join us after the break for our impressions and our video interview with Jeri Ellsworth.
Gallery: Cast AR hands-on at Maker Faire 2013
May 16
Valve’s Steam platform has earned the loyalty and respect of many desktop gamers because of its progressive online marketplace and social network. The frequent deals and discounts help too. Recently Valve launched a new meta-game designed to keep its members locked in to Steam. It’s called Steam Trading Cards.
The idea is to collect a complete set of certain cards. To complete a set, you have to spend time playing the supported games and trade cards with other Steam members. Note that you can’t complete a set just by playing or trading alone; you have to do both to be the very best.
When you complete a set, you can use them to craft a badge. These badges are unlike the normal Steam badges. They come with random goodies such as emoticons, profile backgrounds and even DLC or game coupons. If you collect the same set multiple times, the badge of that set levels up. The badge’s image and title changes with each upgrade.
Crafting or leveling up badges also levels up your Steam profile. When you level up, you earn non-tradable items such as extra slots on your friend list. Here’s a demo of the crafting courtesy of YouTuber PlaysVidyaJames:
Steam Trading Cards is still in beta, so as of now it’s only tied with 6 games – DOTA 2, Half-Life 2, Portal 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Don’t Starve. I guess the Beta status also explains the errors and hiccups in the video. Are you ready to play a game about your gaming habits? Then sign up for the Steam Trading Cards Beta on Steam. Read the FAQ as well while you’re at it.
[via GamesRadar]
May 16
Similar to Microsoft’s reward and achievement system for the Xbox, Valve has come out with their own reward system for PC gamers on Steam, and they’re calling it Trading Cards. It’s launching in beta and it lets you earn rewards for playing Steam games. The Trading Cards will add to your “Steam Level,” as well as the ability to earn rewards by collecting achievements.
The FAQ to the new Trading Card system is a bit confusing, and we recken you’ll have to try it out first before you can really understand it, but Valve says that Trading Cards can be collected in order “to earn items that help you customize your profile and show off your gameplay.” Each game has its own set of trading cards, for which you can earn up to half of them by playing the game, and the other half need to be collected by trading with other users.
Each user will also have “badges” on their profile, and these represent the trading card sets that you’ve collected. Badges also earn you rewards, like profile backgrounds, emoticons, and the chance to earn coupons for things like game discounts and DLC. Whenever you earn another complete set of trading cards, you can “upgrade” your badge.
For the time being, Trading Cards is only available for a select number of games, which include Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Team Fortress 2, Dota 2, Portal 2, Half-Life 2, and Don’t Starve. However, as with any beta program, more games will be added on in the future over the next few months, with eventually all Steam games hopefully supporting Trading Cards, although there was nothing said about support for all games.
Frankly, we’re surprised that Valve has taken this long to introduce a rewards system for Steam. In the past, the company has introduced items that you can trade with other users, including nifty hats in games like Team Fortress 2, but a rewards system is a long time coming. Even if it’s something a bit strange such as Trading Cards, Valve is hoping that gamers will become a bit more invested in their Steam accounts.
VIA: Ars Technica
Steam Trading Cards is Valve’s reward system for playing games is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
May 15
Valve Announces Steam Trading Cards
Posted in: Today's Chili
Who's in charge here?
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.